Ornamental window treatment



Sept. 3, 1968 J s u c ET AL 3,399,711

ORNAMENTAL WINDOW TREATMENT Filed April 5, 1967 INVENTORS T 'S JOSEF F. STULAC, JOSEPH J. CORNISH AND Bnuce B. SELKIRK BY 2 W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,399,711 ORNAMENTAL WINDOW TREATMENT Josef F. Stulac, Florissant, Joseph J. Cornish, Normandy,

and Bruce B. Selkirk, Ladue, Mo., assignors to Midwest Curtain Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 5, 1 967, Ser. No. 628,681 8 Claims. (Cl. 160330) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ornamental window treatment comprised of a plurality of independent decorative units, including cascades, festoons and jabots, of predetermined dimensions for use in pre-selected combinations for ornamentation of a window opening; there being clip members for supporting said units upon a curtain rod in accordance with a prearranged pattern.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to draperies and, more particularly, to an ornamental window treatment incorporating a plurality of discrete decorative drapery-like members adapted for combination in accordance with a predetermined pattern for bordering the window opening. Heretofore in the ornamentation of window openings by festoons and cascades, it has been requisite that each such treatment be custom-made, that is, especially produced for the particular opening. Such treatments were therefore quite expensive, requiring the services of skilled individuals as well as necessitating costly installation wherein a cornice board, precisely measured for the particular installation, was required. The cornice board would be of a single piece wrapped or otherwise covered with the desired material, the festoons, cascades and jabots being suitably attached thereto to provide a comprehensive unitary device. Treatments of this character are thus beyond the economic reach of the average homeowner and have, accordingly, been associated only with homes of the opulent.

By the present invention the currently accepted necessity of producing a festoon and cascade window treatment as a comprehensive physically integrated unit is obviated, so that such treatment may be comprised of individual, independent decorative elements which can be easily installed, as by a housewife, for creating a like ornamental effect.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an ornamental window treatment incorporating a plurality of preselected festoon, cascade and jabot elements, adapted for mounted disposition upon a support member in accordance with a predetermined plan to create the same appearance and pleasing effect as unitary festoon and cascade treatments heretofore used.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ornamental window treatment of the character stated which embodies novel means for supporting the individual decorative elements in operative position, which means can be easily manipulated by the average unskilled individual, such as a housewife, so that installation of the treatment can be easily accomplished and dismantling achieved with equal facility to allow for cleaning, repairs and like purposes.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an ornamental treatment of the character stated embodying novel form-retaining means for the individual cascade units so as to assure proper presentation of the same during usage.

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It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an ornamental treatment of the character stated which comprises a simplicity of independent parts; each of which may be economically produced and each of which may be of any predetermined dimension for combination with other elements to allow for accommodation of window openings of varying extent; said parts of said window treatment being designed for ease of handling and compact storing; said treatment being durable and reliable in usage and bringing about the same appearance as the costly custom-made treatments heretofore known.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an ornamental window treatment constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention illustrating the same in operative position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a rear view, partially broken away, of a festoon unit.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of the extension rod.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of a cascade unit.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A generally designates a window treatment comprising a plurality of individual, discrete ornamental festoon and cascade units 1, 2, respectively, the latter being adapted for disposition laterally of a window opening in opposed, balanced relationship and the former being intended for presentation intermediate said cascade units for achieving the desired effect. As will be developed more fully hereinbelow, it should be recognized that any window treatment made in accordance with the present invention :may be comprised of a preselected number of said units 1, 2 in combinations for accommodating window openings of varying dimensions. FIGURE 1, in full lines, illustrates a window treatment incorporating three festoon units 1 in marginal overlapping relationship with two cascade units. Thus, the combinations of such units are myriad.

Said festoon and cascade units 1, 2 are fabricated of selected materials, such as textile fabrics, synthetics, and the like, including, for example only, rayons, satins, etc., and may embody decorative components, such as, for example, tassels, as indicated at 3, fringe, and the like.

Each festoon unit 1 may be fabricated from a single cloth section and having an upper horizontally extending margin 4, constituting a maximum dimension of said unit, and being developed by a line of folding. The side and lower margins of said section provide a continuous arcuated edge, as at 5, with the said horizontal margin 4 constituting the chord of the arc subtended. The maxi mum vertical extent of each festoon unit is markedly less than the width. At the opposite ends of its upper margin each festoon unit 1 is provided with a pocket, as at 6, 6', for receiving the ends of an extension rod 7 to be described hereinbelow. Adjacent each pocket, said festoon units 1 are gathered, as at 8, '8, so as to cause the development of a plurality of graceful folds 9 extending from side to side of each festoon unit 1 in substantial concentricity with edge 5.

Each cascade unit 2, being formed from a fabric section, comprises a body 10 having an upper transverse margin 11 constituted of a line of folding with a short depending skirt 12 on the rearward side, the ends of 3 which are stitched to the confronting edges of the front fold portion of body at 13, 13'. Each of said cascade units 2 have an outer vertical side margin 14, an inner vertical side margin 15 of substantially reduced length relative to outer margin 14, and with the intervening lower end margin 16 being upwardly and inwardly inclined from the lower end of side margin 14 to the lower end of side margin 15. The said body 10 may also be provided with a series of pleats, as at 16, for enhancing the appearance of the cascade and allowing for a draped effect. It will thus be seen that the marginal configuration of each cascade unit 2 is designed to artistically collaborate with the intervening festoon unit or units 1, as the case may be, so as to give a unified appearance.

The said festoon and cascade units 1, 2 are adapted to be supported upon a conventional curtain rod, as indicated at 17, which is of suitable length for extension from one side of the window opening to the other and having return portions (not shown) of appropriate depth; said rod 17 thereby obviating the necessity of a cornice board. For reasons discussed hereinbelow, it is preferable that curtain rod 17 be formed from suitable stock so as to cause the presentation of an elongated slot-like opening as indicated at 17' in its rearwardly presented face. Each of said cascade units 2 are suspended from the said curtain rod at its outer end portions by means of conventional drapery hooks, as indicated at 18, which in the extreme inner portions of said cascades will engage the return portions (not shown) of said curtain rod 17 and which in the forwardly presented outer portions of said cascade units 2 will be suspended from extension rods 7 carried within the adjacent festoon unit 1 in a manner now to be described.

As may best be seen in FIGURE 5, each extension rod 7 comprises cooperating tubular sections 19, being closed at their outer ends and with the latter being of relatively increased diameter for telescopingly receiving the former. Provided for disposition within said section 20, at the inner end thereof, is a compression coil spring 21, which bears at its outer end against the end face of said section 20 and at its opposite end against the proximate face of a rigid rod 22, as a dowel. The other end of said rod 22 abuts against the inner end edge of said section 19 within section 20. Thus, sections 19, 20 are urged apart through bias of spring 21. The length of extension rod 7 with spring 21 in an unstressed state is greater than the transverse distance between pockets 6, 6' of the associated festoon 1 whereby said sections 19, 20 are forced toward each other, in compression of spring 21, for reception within the associated festoon 1 and then allowed to longitudinally expand under said spring 21 causing the ends of extension rod 7 to be snugly received within pockets 6, 6'; it being recognized that the distance between said pockets is less than the length of extension rod 7 in an unstressed state so that the said festoon 1 will be maintained in a fully supported state.

Each festoon unit 1, supported upon its related extension rod 7, is suspended from curtain rod 17 by means of mounting members 23 suitably formed from fiat stock. Each mounting member 23 incorporates a central tongue portion 24 for disposition against the forward face of curtain rod 17, there being a pair of laterally presented and downwardly extending clip arms 25, 25 for extension over the rearward face of curtain rod 17 and thus cooperating with tongue 24 which serves as a fixed jaw, for snug engagement upon said curtain rod 17. Each of said clip arms 25, 25' is forwardly bent substantially intermediate its length as at a for projection into slot 17' of curtain rod 17 for stable engagement therein. In its upper central portion each mounting member 23 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 26 having a vertical flange 27 for cooperating with the adjacent portions of said mounting member 23 to securely receive the associated extension rod 7. Mounting members 23 are utilized spacedly along each extension rod 7 for proper support of the festoon units 1 upon curtain rod 17. With the unique co-action between projections a on arms 25', 25 of mounting members 23 and slot-like opening 17 of ourtain rod 17 said mounting members are secure against inadvertent displacement, thereby enhancing the over-all stability of the window treatment.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the window treatment of the present invention is comprised of individual, economically produced units and elements which may be readily assembled in any desired mutual relationship so as to bring about the specific ornamentation desired. Thus, the average unskilled user, such as a housewife, need merely have mounted a curtain rod in customary fashion and then determine the type units requisite for the particular window opening. The engagement of extension rod 7 within the festoon units 1 is easily effected and the engagement of mounting members 23 is easily accomplished without the use of any tools. Similarly, the disposition of cascade units 2 is accomplished by engagement of drapery hooks in a well known manner. The ease of installation is matched by ease of dismantling so that the various components. may be made available for washing, cleaning, repairing, as the case may be, without necessitating laborious efforts in the taking down operation.

It can be readily noted that the dimensions of the individual festoon and cascade units 1, 2 may be pre-selected for accommodating a particular window opening. The combinations of the same are myriad although it has been found that festoon units of 26 inches and 34 inches in length are readily adaptable for usage with two cascade units for serving various curtain rod extents. Thus, for example, with a curtain rod extent of between 62 inches and inches, three festoon units of 26 inches, together with two cascade units, will provide a suitable treatment, whereas with a curtain rod extent of from 70 inches to 88 inches it has been found that two festoon units of 26 inches with one festoon unit of 34 inches cooperate with two cascade units for effective treatment. As indicated in FIGURE 1, the various components may be adapted for lateral overlap which thus renders the same units suitable for windows of varying transverse extent.

Although the drawings do not illustrate a jabot it must be recognized that the same is merely a well known decorative element which may be likewise suspended from the extension rod 7 of the adjacent festoons to provide a central element to the over-all treatment.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, and arrangement and combination of the several parts of the ornamental window treatment may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. An ornamental window treatment comprising a support member for disposition transversely above the window to be treated, a pair of first individual decorative elements disposed at opposite ends of said support member, means for detachably engaging said first decorative element upon said support member, at least one second decorative element disposed upon said support member between said first decorative elements, extending means provided in each second decorative element for maintaining same in expanded condition, and connector means for engaging said extending means and'said support member for mounting of said second decorative element thereon.

2. A nornamental window treatment comprising a support member for disposition transversely above the window to be treated, a pair of first individual decorative elements disposed at opposite ends of saidsupport member, means for 'detachably engaging said firstdecorative elements upon said support member, at least one second decorative element disposed upon said support member between said first decorative elements, a rod mounted within each second decorative element and in axial parallel relation to said support member, and a clip member interengaging said rod and said support member for mounting of said second decorative element thereon.

3. An ornamental window treatment as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said second decorative element having an upper marginal portion presented in a direction lengthwise of said support member and having a pocket provided at the opposite ends of said upper marginal portion, the ends of said rod being received within said pockets for maintaining said second decorative element in extended operative condition.

4. An ornamental window treatment as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by resilient means urging said rod into extended condition, and said clip member having jaw means for engaging said support member and rodreceiving portions.

5. An ornamental window treatment as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by said rod comprising a pair of first and second tubular sections, said first section being relatively greater in diameter than said second section and telescopically receiving the latter, said resilient means being received within the first section for urging said first and second sections into extended condition or away from each other.

6. An ornamental window treatment comprising a support member for transverse disposition above the window to be treated, a pair of first, individual decorative elements fabricated of flexible material, at least one second decorative element fabricated of flexible material, hook means provided on said first decorative elements for detachable mounting of the same upon said support member at opposite ends thereof, a rod member provided in each second decorative element maintaining same in extended, operative condition, and clip members interengaging said sup- 3:)

port member and the rod members of each second decorative element for detachably engaging same upon said support member between said first decorative elements for collaborating with the latter in providing a unitary ornamental effect.

7. An ornamental window treatment as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by said clip members having jaw means in their lower portions for engaging the support member and rod-receiving portions in their upper end portion for engaging the rods of each second decorative element whereby the upper portions of each second decorative element are located upwardly of said support member.

8. An ornamental window treatment as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by said clip members being formed from a fiat metallic section and having a pair of laterally presented rearwardly extending arms in its lower portion, a flat plate portion intermediate said arms for cooperating with the same 'for engaging opposite faces of said support member, and a forwardly ext-ending arm for receiving the rod of the related second decorative element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,932 1/1892 Cornell.

1,270,634 6/1918 Lowe et al 330 X 1,456,789 5/1923 Falkenberg 160124 1,708,107 4/1929 Plotkin 160-348 2,040,750 5/ 1936 Long.

2,392,598 1/1946 Lewis 160123 2,547,697 4/1951 Gallo 160330 2,588,256 3/1952 Lepow 160330 X 2,600,091 6/1952 Becker 24-l37 2,905,992 9/1959 Swick 2481 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

